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Q: What is Counselling and Psychotherapy?

A: Counselling and psychotherapy are confidential ways to seek help in exploring, understanding and resolving any thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may be troubling you in a safe, nonjudgemental and respectful environment. At Elmwood Centre we aim to help and support you through the emotional, psychological and behavioural changes you may need to make in order to resolve these troubles. An important part of what counselling is about is to help you to make sense of what is going on in your life at the moment, as well as reflecting on past experiences to see how they may be impacting in the present.

Q: Why do I need Counselling and Psychotherapy?
A: The goal of counselling and psychotherapy is to improve the quality of your life by promoting happiness and well being, build on existing strengths and develop healthier relationships. People come to counselling for many different reasons. All of us experience challenges in our lives. Some challenges can be too complex and distressing to manage on our own, and it is not always easy or possible to ask family or friends to help. Having someone who is professionally trained and independent of people you know can be a relief and helpful. At Elmwood Centre the aim is to create a safe and non-judgemental and objective space to speak about what is of concern to you.
Q: How does Therapy help?

A: In challenging circumstances many of us get stressed, anxious and upset. A professionally trained therapist to help you to develop appropriate and effective problem solving skills, discover your true potential and begin the journey of self awareness, acceptance and change. At the heart of the counselling and psychotherapy journey is the empathic, nurturing and trusting relationship that can be developed between you and your therapist, and which is believed to be at the centre of success in the therapeutic process.

Q: What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?

A: The terms counselling and psychotherapy are often used together, and overlap in a number of different ways. However, although there are many similarities there are also some differences. Counselling is usually considered to be conducted over a shorter period of time, be more focused on resolving a particular issue and is mostly concerned with changing behavioural patterns. Psychotherapy is a longer and deeper process that requires a longer training period, that identifies and explores deeper emotional and psychological issues and attempts to examine and address the underlying root causes of the presenting issue.
Both methods of counselling provide people with a way of dealing with change, and require the therapist to have highly developed skills. The aim of both is similar in that the development of self awareness, insight and understanding, are the essence of any therapeutic process.

Q: Is Therapy confidential?
A: Yes. At Elmwood Centre all our therapists are bound by principles of confidentiality. We acknowledge the importance of confidentiality and we discuss this in detail in our first session with you.
Q: How long does counselling take?
A: There is no standard time frame or particular attendance guidelines for therapy. The length of time the Counselling process takes depends on the individual. We are all different with varying needs and therefore it can take anything from a few weeks to a few months, or sometimes even longer for change to occur.
Q: How long is a session?

A: Each session is between 50 minutes to one hour. Family therapy and Couples Counselling may take longer. This can be discussed on an individual basis with your therapist.

Q: How often do people attend?
A: Generally people attend weekly, but this may vary according to circumstances.
Q: Will I always see the same person?
A: Yes.